We have said it before, and we will say it again: we are sick of scrolling. And chances are, you are too. If you are yearning for something productive, calming, and challenging all at the same time, allow me to introduce the now-coined and trending “Grandma Hobbies”. These were almost long-forgotten pastimes that may have died out in the digital age, had it not been for the human desire to create and do. With March being National Crochet Month, it is the perfect time to delve into the different categories of these trending topics, and maybe one will pique your interest! Let’s dive on in.
Fiber and textile arts: Knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, felting, quilting, sewing, and embroidering
Knitting and needlepoint are actually a lot of fun! They are beginner-friendly, while still challenging, and there’s lots to learn! But both provide a mental escape, busy hands, and beautiful items produced. You can take these hobbies anywhere with a mini craft bag, and it helps pass the time you may need to!
Culinary arts: Baking, sourdough or other bread making, pickling, canning, and cooking.
Make a sourdough starter, or buy yeast and attempt a basic bread loaf. If our ancestors could make bread with what little they had, I promise you can too with a little help from Google and YouTube! And once your hard work is cooled and ready to consume, you will be proud and accomplished in a new skill that may pour over into something more.
Nature-based arts: Gardening, bird-watching, and flower arranging.
As we enter the spring season, now is the perfect time to take up a nature-based hobby! Start a small herb garden on your windowsill, or refresh your porch with floral arrangements, or even dedicate a small space to a glorious garden.
Crafting: Pottery, jewelry making, painting, and scrapbooking.
Get some clay and craft a new vase for your home, or a dish for trinkets or jewelry. Get chains and charms and create personalized gifts for friends and family. Make a beverage, grab some paint and a canvas, and create a new piece of art for your home. Print pictures off your phone and laptop and transfer them over into a scrapbook to cherish and pass down.
With these hobbies now trending, there are online forums and communities to connect further with others involved in your newfound hobby across all social platforms. While a movement started around distancing ourselves from the digital world finds its way circling back to digital connection, the focus is to spend more time doing and creating without a screen. And with this, people are finding time offline connecting with themselves, and logging online to research and intentionally connect with others. It may be a stretch, but could “Grandma hobbies” bring digital balance back into our lives?
